Most bookmakers treat college basketball (NCAA) and the NBA like two sides of the same coin for basketball bettors. As such, they allow their sports bettors to wager on point spreads, totals, money lines, and player props in both competitions. However, a closer look will reveal there are distinct nuances in each competition, especially when betting on player props.
Here are the differences between betting on the NBA and college basketball player props.
NCAA player props are outlawed in some states
Different states in the US have different rules regarding betting on the players' performance in college basketball. States like New Jersey don’t allow betting on college basketball games hosted in the state, although it allows player props. On the other hand, Oregon doesn’t allow betting on any college basketball games, including totals, spreads, and player props.
Some states like Maryland and Louisiana have outlawed player props in College basketball in 2024. The decision came in response to multiple college sports betting scandals in the last five years and the NCAA’s campaign to ban prop betting in college basketball across all states. However, market experts believe that banning player props in college basketball will only push bettors to illegal and offshore sportsbooks.
Comparatively, NBA player props are legal in all states and bettors can wager on different aspects of the player's performance during a game. In fact, NBA player props are the largest legal betting market for basketball props on leading sportsbooks on Cheekypunter.com and there are plenty of options to choose from.
College basketball players have lower scoring stats than in the NBA
On average, NCAA teams record 68 points per game, while the NBA records approximately 105 points. The main reasons why college basketball players average low scores include:
- NCAA games are shorter than NBA matches
College basketball games are only 40 minutes long, played for 20 minutes in each half. Meanwhile, NBA games are 48 minutes long and are divided into four quarters of 12 minutes each. As such, NBA players use these additional eight minutes to record more possessions and that leads to more points in a game.
- NBA players are better
Professional basketball players have more experience and record better performances than their college counterparts. NBA players are more skilled in different aspects of the game, including ball handling, defense, shooting, and basketball IQ. These players also use more sophisticated tactics and perform more consistently than college players.
The NCAA schedule is more relaxed
College players tend to have a more relaxed match schedule than professional NBA players. Most NCAA teams only play 35 matches per year and usually have a maximum of two gamers per week. In contrast, the NBA regular season features 82 games per team and frequently features three or four games every week.
The average NBA team plays approximately 14.4 back-to-back matches per season, something that NCAA teams only experience in tournament play. More games per season means the players are more tired due to traveling and the high number of games. That adversely affects the players' reaction time. As such, prop bettors should consider the players’ fatigue when placing their bets.
